Page 5 of When a Cowboy Falls Hard
“That must be amazing.”
“You know what? We’ll be having a party Saturday night and they’ll be on display. You should come out. Both of you.” Good thing he remembered to add Graham to the invite.
“That sounds like fun. What’s the occasion?”
“My birthday, but please don’t bring a gift.” He hadn’t thought of that and certainly didn’t want them to feel obligated. “Just yourselves.”
“Since my uncle’s known you for so long, I’m sure we can come up with an idea.” She hesitated. “Would it be okay if I brought Tex?”
Did she have a husband? His dreams of using the party as a chance to get to know her better evaporated. “Sure. Is he your?—”
“He’s my son.”
He blinked. She had a kid?
“He just turned five. I promise he’ll behave himself, but if this is an adults-only party, then….”
“Tex is certainly welcome. By all means bring him. He’ll love the Beaver Bunch.”
“Thanks.” She gave him a warm smile. “He also loves birthday parties.”
“Me, too.” And he had some thinking to do. He shouldn’t be surprised she had a kid. Many of his friends had them and she was a couple years older, around his brother Luis’s age. Luis and Jordan were expecting their first baby in July.
Evidently Tex’s dad wasn’t on the scene. But a five-year-old sure did complicate the picture. Could be confusing for that little guy, maybe even disruptive.
Because of that she might not be looking for a relationship. Even if she’d consider it, was he up to that kind of challenge? He’d better decide before he issued any more invitations or entertained any more fantasies.
He’d never even contemplated marriage, let alone fatherhood. His body might want her, but his brain told him to take a step back.
Chapter Two
Another one bites the dust. Zinnia allowed herself a brief sigh of regret. But even if Monty hadn’t signaled a switch in his intentions after hearing about Tex, she wouldn’t have encouraged him.
She had her priorities straight. No dating until Tex was older. Much older.
But that didn’t mean she was immune to the charms of Montgomery Bridger. He was totally her type, physically and mentally.
During the walk-through she absorbed the affectionate tone in his voice as he introduced each of the horses. He’d dedicated his life to taking care of their ailments and she admired the hell out of that choice.
According to her uncle, Monty was a dedicated healer who would sleep in a sick horse’s stall if they needed monitoring through the night. He’d drop whatever he was doing to rush to the aid of any horse in trouble. On top of caring for the ones in the barn, he kept tabs on the wild ones that roamed Laughing Creek’s vast sanctuary.
He had hero written all over him — kind, generous and easy on the eye. His muscular build and clear blue eyes stirred longings she hadn’t satisfied in five years. She couldn’t afford the emotional risk.
When her ex had left during the first year of fatherhood, declaring babies were too much trouble, she’d agreed to give up child support in return for sole custody. Thank God her sister had offered to help.
Clearly Monty wanted her, but so did most unattached men and a few of the attached ones. She had the kind of body that inspired randy thoughts and she’d become adept at discouraging unwelcome advances.
She wouldn’t have to worry about Monty. He was a gentleman who understood the score. He would curb his attraction and she’d curb hers.
Sure, she’d briefly fantasized going to bed with him, and he’d likely done the same with her. They could have had a lot of fun together. But the possibility that she’d jeopardize her life with Tex wasn’t a chance worth taking.
As the three of them neared the back end of the barn, Monty had yet to identify any of the horses as being his personal ride. So she asked him about it.
“I saved mine for last. Meet my buddy Patient.”
A deep red sorrel with a flaxen mane and a lightning-shaped blaze poked his head over the last stall door on the left.
“What a beauty.” She smiled. “I assume he’s super chill.”
